better ... than ...
結構︰better+…+than+被比對象
說明︰此句型意為“寧可…;最好還是…”。better 之後可接<形容詞>,<副詞>,<名詞>,<動詞>等。
Please try to attend the meeting. Better late than absent.請您盡量參加會議。遲來也比不來強。
Better to postpone1 the shipment2 than to cancel the contract. 與其撤約還不如延期裝運。
Better reduce the price than allow a discount. 與其給折扣,不如減價。
with no N is it ...er than
結構︰... and with no+名詞1+is it+比較級+than+with+名詞2
說明︰此句型意為“…這種情形沒有一種…比…更為…”。此種結構,由於有 no,所以用 is it的倒裝句型。
It is unreasonable3 to regard any language as the possession of a particular nation, and with no language is it more unreasonable than with English. 把某一種語言視為某一特定的國家所擁有是不合理的,而這種情形沒有一種語言比英語更為不合理。
It is bad to get ill, and with no disease is it worse than with cancer.
生病是糟糕的,而這種情形沒有一種疾病比癌症更為糟糕。
It is pleasant to chat with friends, and with no chat is it more pleasant than with close friends.
和朋友聊天是愉快的,而這種情形沒有比和知己的朋友聊天更為愉快。
Who is the most ...
結構︰Who is the+最高級…?
說明︰此句型意為“誰最…?”。此句型中若將 who 改為 which,即用來詢問一組事物中最具某種特色的,如例句4。
Who is the oldest of them? 他們之中誰的年紀最大?
Who is the most beautiful in their family? 誰是他們家裡最美麗的人?
Who is the youngest here? 這裡誰是最年輕的?
Which is the most interesting subject for you? 哪個科目對你來說最有趣?
the ...est ... not ...
結構︰最高級+…not…
說明︰<最高級>詞類與 not 並用時,有“甚至…都不…”的意味。
The most foolish man knows his own name. 再笨的人都知道自己的名字。
The loveliest flower cannot beat her beauty. 再漂亮的花也比不上她的美麗。
The greatest scholar cannot solve this difficult problem.
再偉大的學者也沒有辦法解答這個難題吧。
The richest man in the world cannot buy everything.
即使是世上最富有的人,也無法買到一切。
There is not the smallest chance of his escape. 他一點逃走的機會也沒有。
Not even the thickest jacket was enough to keep out the cold.
就連最厚的夾克也不足以禦寒。
The strongest man (that) you can think of cannot tear the log apart with bare hands.
就連你所能想到的最壯的人也不能光用手就將木頭撕裂。
the ...est ... that V-ed
結構︰the+最高級…+(that)+完成式
說明︰此句型意為“最…”。that 是<關係代名詞>;<完成式>中習慣使用<副詞> ever 強調。
That’s the best book that I have ever read. 那是我讀過的最好的書。
That’s the nicest thing that has ever happened to me. 那是我遇到的最美好的事。
He is the most diligent4 student that I have ever known. 他是我所知道的最用功的學生。
That’s the worst performance (that) I have ever seen. 那是我所看過的最糟的一次表演。
of all the N, the ...est
結構︰of+the three/the four/all the+複數名詞,+最高級子句
說明︰此句型意為“在…中,…最…”。但須注意:“of the two+複數<名詞>+<比較級><子句>”,表示“兩者中…較…”,如例句7。<最高級><子句>也可置於句首。
Of the three students, he is the best. 三個學生中,他是最好的。
Jane is the best of all the students in her class. 珍是班中最好的學生。
Jane is the best of the three (students). 珍是三個學生中最好的一個。
Of all the high mountains, Mt. Jade5 is the highest. 在所有高山當中,玉山為最高。
Of all the four seasons, summer is the hottest. 在所有四季當中,夏天最熱。
Of all the girls, she is the most beautiful. 在所有這些女孩子當中,她最美。
Of the two girls, Mary is more beautiful. 這兩個女孩中,瑪麗較漂亮。